hey guys, some of you herer might know me or seen my car..Its a silver and black 69 SS..Its has a 496 w/ richmond 6-speed and a ford 9in with 3.73 gears..

The help Im looking for is suggestions for a new manual trans...I broke my richmond for the second time:(:mad: and I dont want to fix it again..So I need a manual trans that will handle over 650 ft. lbs of torque, I use the car on the street and the strip..So if anyone has any suggestions for a trans that they know of I would greatly appreciate it..thanks for the input

Hey Scott, just go with the Tremec 5 speed. I few of these guys have or know of these trannies getting beat on and doing fine. I think Mark(GOTOGO) had some issues with his but I think any mega-powered cars are going to have issues with a manual trans.

By the way, It's about time you posted something.

You should get the t-56 six speed. Thats what the srt 10 has and their is a bunch of guys who have supercharged trucks and dump the clutch on 31inch slicks with no promblems

I have the TKO 600 from Tremec. Its a stout trans and I challenge you to break it. I had some sychronizer issues with mine but Tremec made good on it under warrenty and I think I'm the only one that has ever had problems with them. The OD is great. You'll have to cut your tunnel some but its not too bad.

Don't have any experience with them but Richmond just came out with a 5 speed OD that is supposed to handle 600 ft lbs of torque.

Go with a 4l80e, then you will get the OD plus faster times at the strip..

I agree Tremec TKO 600. I dont know of anyone that has broken one. Many guys running slicks with well over the rated 600ft-lbs.

Go with a 4l80e, then you will get the OD plus faster times at the strip..

Kevin, this is a original SS 4 speed car..isnt the 4l80e an automatic??..besides I like banging gears

Has anyone heard of "tranzilla"?? this is a T56 they say can handle over 1200hp..plus they have a smaller version that handles 850ft lbs of torque..the draw back is that I may have to wait till the strike is over to buy my tranny...
I went with the Richmond cause I had a 5 speed richmond in my elcamino and never once had a problem..so I buy the 6 speed cause I wanted overdrve and now I hae busted it twice...only had 500 miles on it this time

Has anyone heard of "tranzilla"?? this is a T56 they say can handle over 1200hp..plus they have a smaller version that handles 850ft lbs of torque..the draw back is that I may have to wait till the strike is over to buy my tranny...
I went with the Richmond cause I had a 5 speed richmond in my elcamino and never once had a problem..so I buy the 6 speed cause I wanted overdrve and now I hae busted it twice...only had 500 miles on it this time

I have heard of that. You might want to do the search on here i think there is some info about them.

What about a lenco or a liberty trans?

I have heard of that. You might want to do the search on here i think there is some info about them.

What about a lenco or a liberty trans?

This car is mainly a street car, but I do like to go to the track..I didnt like the levers on a lenco and the liberty has the exposed rods thru the floor(besides being over 6grand)...

If you go with the tremec, the kits are pretty good from Classic Chevy Motorsports. However, the Inland Empire driveshaft they sent me had Chinese ends on it. I just got mine lengthened and they replaced the whole tube but the ujoints rattled in the ends. I ended up keeping the ends and the driveshaft shop was able to put some new Spicer U joints in it that tightened it up considerably. There's a night and day difference in the car now.

If you go with the tremec, the kits are pretty good from Classic Chevy Motorsports. However, the Inland Empire driveshaft they sent me had Chinese ends on it. I just got mine lengthened and they replaced the whole tube but the ujoints rattled in the ends. I ended up keeping the ends and the driveshaft shop was able to put some new Spicer U joints in it that tightened it up considerably. There's a night and day difference in the car now.

Mark, which kit did you get and what did u end up paying for it to your door??

I also ordered my from Classic Chevy.

I also ordered my from Classic Chevy.

So Brett, what am I looking at spending??

you most likely dont need the whole kit so just for the trans on summit is 1995.00

Mark, which kit did you get and what did u end up paying for it to your door??

About $2700 shipped to the door. I got the trans, driveshaft, speedo cable, all the bolts. You re-use your crossmember, just dimple it. If your car is a 4 speed, once you cut the tunnel, its pretty much a bolt-in. Just unbolt the shifter, turn it around 180 degrees, bolt it back on and it fits the stock location just fine.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/sidebyside.JPG
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/incar.JPG

Prices went up on 1 OCT so it will probably be a bit higher.

It still hurts to see the floor of your car cut up Mark:)
Makes me think about how much I will need to do mine:(


I see the current setup makes over 600ft lbs of tq and Richmond is supposed to be a strong trans, why would the Tremec be any better over its rated tq value?
BTW I would love to see pics of this monster, sounds like a cool car:thumbsup:

why would the Tremec be any better over its rated tq value?


yea thats a good question....

It still hurts to see the floor of your car cut up Mark:)
Makes me think about how much I will need to do mine:(


I see the current setup makes over 600ft lbs of tq and Richmond is supposed to be a strong trans, why would the Tremec be any better over its rated tq value?
BTW I would love to see pics of this monster, sounds like a cool car:thumbsup:

yea thats a good question....

Not sure, I had a richmond 5speed in my elcamino and it went thru hell and never broke...When I broke the 6-speed the first time I took it to Jamies transmission in Snohomish. He told me that the 6-speed design was a bad one..Jamie said there is no center support of the main shafts, He told me it would probably break again, and yes he was right..He told me the 5-speed was a better design, but at the time I bought my 6-speed the richmond 4+1 didnt exist..I am going to talk to him tomorrow and see what he recommends..He has a 1000hp mustang that he races and it has a 5-speed...

http://C:\Documents and Settings\lon bartlet\My Documents\My Pictures\07-28-07_1538.jpg

Hi Scott
I have a couple of questions. I my 65 Malibu have a 454 pushing 575 H.P I have a Richmond 6 speed with 4th gear being 1to1. My ford 9" has 3.55s and I am thinking of swaping out to 3.70's. I am thinking it will get me a little lower gear 1 through 5 and still get about 60 mph at 2200 on the highway. I have 4.11 ring and pinion, but am thinking that would be too low.
Secondly....I am not crazy about this richmong 6 speed.
I e-mailed richmond 3 times and got no reply. I know I can call, but that ticked me off. I grind going into reverse unless I stop the car, put it into first gear and then shift into reverse. I am used to it now, but it's not right.
Any thoughts

Hi Scott
I have a couple of questions. I my 65 Malibu have a 454 pushing 575 H.P I have a Richmond 6 speed with 4th gear being 1to1. My ford 9" has 3.55s and I am thinking of swaping out to 3.70's. I am thinking it will get me a little lower gear 1 through 5 and still get about 60 mph at 2200 on the highway. I have 4.11 ring and pinion, but am thinking that would be too low.
Secondly....I am not crazy about this richmong 6 speed.
I e-mailed richmond 3 times and got no reply. I know I can call, but that ticked me off. I grind going into reverse unless I stop the car, put it into first gear and then shift into reverse. I am used to it now, but it's not right.
Any thoughts

Hmmm, a muncie will do the same thing going into reverse, no syncro on reverse, and I tell people to shift to first then reverse.

Auto Gear is working on a cure for the always chipped up reverse and reverse idler in the muncie.

Not sure, I had a richmond 5speed in my elcamino and it went thru hell and never broke...When I broke the 6-speed the first time I took it to Jamies transmission in Snohomish. He told me that the 6-speed design was a bad one..Jamie said there is no center support of the main shafts, He told me it would probably break again, and yes he was right..He told me the 5-speed was a better design, but at the time I bought my 6-speed the richmond 4+1 didnt exist..I am going to talk to him tomorrow and see what he recommends..He has a 1000hp mustang that he races and it has a 5-speed...

Well, I've been reading this and here is what I think. You have a original SS big block car so unless the body and floor pan are crap, why chop a hole in it you can pass a small kid through:confused::confused:

I would put a M22 or M22W in the car, more than capable of handling the HP and torque, no holes or mods, and be done with it.

This car is a driver, not a race car, so take the easy way out. Or do you do a lot of freeway crusing:confused::confused:

I never look at a 496 and a freeway style motor.

JMO.

Thanks wally. I have something to talk to richmond about now. What about the 3.55's to 3.70 or 3.89 ring and pinion gears. Any input on that?

Well, I've been reading this and here is what I think. You have a original SS big block car so unless the body and floor pan are crap, why chop a hole in it you can pass a small kid through:confused::confused:

I would put a M22 or M22W in the car, more than capable of handling the HP and torque, no holes or mods, and be done with it.

This car is a driver, not a race car, so take the easy way out. Or do you do a lot of freeway crusing:confused::confused:

I never look at a 496 and a freeway style motor.

JMO.

If he already has a Richmond 6 speed, wouldn't the floor already be clearenced? I do agree with what your saying if the car was #'s matching, but whats the difference when its got a big power 496. I'v been struggling with this too as I have picked up a Tremec tko600 for my '66. My original drive train is gone but I still hate to cut the floor even though its going to happen:)

Scot, you might PM Mike (Loader1) from the NW section. He runs a Richmond 5 speed at the track with a very nice '67 and may have an opinion on them, he launches the car very hard and is very consistant with the Richmond.

If he already has a Richmond 6 speed, wouldn't the floor already be clearenced? I do agree with what your saying if the car was #'s matching, but whats the difference when its got a big power 496. I'v been struggling with this too as I have picked up a Tremec tko600 for my '66. My original drive train is gone but I still hate to cut the floor even though its going to happen:)

I don't think the ROD6 requires any serious hacking, I know the 5 speed is damn near a bolt in.

My problem is the hole, I looked forever to find a 67 that was sound, no riust in the floors and I won't cut it up.

But your right about the 496, it's not stock so in the end it comes down to bucks and how much you want to cut up your car.;);)

Mark, When you open up a hole like that, do you close it up with home made metal?
If so, I would like to see the final piece. I know that any center console would need support metal above the tranny for its supports to be anchored. How far back is the shifter from stock?

Mark, When you open up a hole like that, do you close it up with home made metal?
If so, I would like to see the final piece. I know that any center console would need support metal above the tranny for its supports to be anchored. How far back is the shifter from stock?

Go to the Classic Chevy web site, they have pics. They also supply the patch with the kits. I'm not anti TKO I'm just anti hack hole:yes:

I couldn't see what the 6 od is rated for tq. The Richmond 5 od is rated for 600 ft. lb. which might be what your 5 spd was. If the 5 od is rated for more just bolt one of those in.
Correct me if I'm wrong but according to the website the Tremec aren't rated for more than 600 ft. lb. and you won't have to weld a new floor in.

I couldn't see what the 6 od is rated for tq. The Richmond 5 od is rated for 600 ft. lb. which might be what your 5 spd was. If the 5 od is rated for more just bolt one of those in.
Correct me if I'm wrong but according to the website the Tremec aren't rated for more than 600 ft. lb. and you won't have to weld a new floor in.

When I had the 6-speed rebuilt the first time, Richmond said it would hold 650 ft lb. of torque..My motor is about that, maybe a little less. Its not breaking in 1st or 2nd like u would think it would, U would think a launch would be the worst thing for it, the first time it broke I was shifting from 2nd to 3rd, and this time I was shifting from 3rd to 4th.
the last 5-speed I had wasnt an overdrive, it was just there standard 5-speed. Their advertising says the overdrive 5-speed will handle 600 ft lbs of torque.

I agree with you that if it would break it would do so on launch. And it sounds like the 6 speed is rated for more than the 5 od. Wow, you have some torque there! I also agree with you that if it is there, you should be able to use it when you want. I do have another question though. With all that torque, how does it hook in the first two gears?

When I had the 6-speed rebuilt the first time, Richmond said it would hold 650 ft lb. of torque..My motor is about that, maybe a little less. Its not breaking in 1st or 2nd like u would think it would, U would think a launch would be the worst thing for it, the first time it broke I was shifting from 2nd to 3rd, and this time I was shifting from 3rd to 4th.
the last 5-speed I had wasnt an overdrive, it was just there standard 5-speed. Their advertising says the overdrive 5-speed will handle 600 ft lbs of torque.

I can't find a single word on the Richmond web site that speaks about torque. In the past Richmond has been very lite on torque, more of a cover you ass position so when you pop one they can fall back on the lite numbers.

Tremec on the other hand is very proud of the torque numbers, they won't tell you how they arrive at those number, I asked:sad::sad::sad:

GM never put torque or hp numbers on the Muncie, they put it behind some very nasty factory motors and it lived, 454s, 455 poncho, 455 W30 442, mega torque and hp combos and not to be ignored the 455 buick Stage cars.

I agree with you that if it would break it would do so on launch. And it sounds like the 6 speed is rated for more than the 5 od. Wow, you have some torque there! I also agree with you that if it is there, you should be able to use it when you want. I do have another question though. With all that torque, how does it hook in the first two gears?

At the track with DOT slicks it hooks good, now on the street that is a different issue..I have now problem lighting them up in the first 3 gears. And that is with some pretty decent tires too

A buddy of mine suggested going witha Super T-10 and put a gear vendor overdirve unit behind it...It sounds pretty bullet proof, are super T-10's pretty stout??